Packaging with improved water vapour permeability

ABSTRACT

Packaging means made of plastic, in particular for a free-flowing or pourable surfactant-containing and/or bleach-containing material, for example, a detergent or cleaning powder, comprising a base, top and body, wherein the packaging means has a water vapor permeability level &gt;15 g/(m 2 *d), and wherein at least the body of the packaging means is enclosed, in part, by a sheet-like presentation and identification means which butts against the outer surface of the packaging means and has a water vapor permeability level &lt;15 g/(m 2 *d).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of PCT/EP2008/052688, filed 5Mar. 2008, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102007 029 315.3, filed 22 Jun. 2007.

The present invention relates to packaging or containers made of plasticwith a water vapor permeability >15 g/(m²*d), wherein the externalsurface of the packaging is enclosed, at least in sections, by apresentation and identification means that fits the external surface ofthe packaging and has a water vapor permeability <15 g/(m²*d).

Plastic containers are used in various forms and designs as packagingfor the transport and storage of a variety of most diverse packagedgoods.

Many packaged goods require that the plastic packaging provides a watervapor barrier adequate to firstly prevent ingress of moisture throughthe packaging walls into the packaged goods, and secondly from theinside of the packaging into the surroundings.

In the case of ingress of moisture, dispersible packaged goods canbecome clumped, for example, such that the thus-damaged packaged goodscan no longer be conveniently removed from the package. Moreover, thepackaged goods can also be chemically modified by the ingress of watervapor. For example, penetrating water vapor deactivates or decomposesbleaches and/or enzymes in powdered laundry detergents and cleaningagents. Unwanted biological effects, such as bacterial growth or mold inthe packaged goods, are also possible from an increased ingress of watervapor.

Concerning the egress of moisture, particularly with aqueous packagedgoods, an inadequate water vapor barrier can lead to thickening of thepackaged goods if water vapor can escape through the package wall intothe surroundings. This is particularly relevant in warm temperatures orin direct sunshine for this kind of packaged goods. This then leads to amodified flow behavior and concentrations in the liquid packaged goodswhich render an exact dosage difficult for the consumer. The volume lossthat results from the escape of water vapor can lead to an unaesthetic,unwanted dent in the relevant container.

Furthermore, due to the loss of liquid, soluble ingredients in theliquid product may precipitate out and settle on the bottom of thecontainer. Finally, the subtle lowering of the level that accompaniesthe loss of water is undesirable, especially when the bottle istransparent and a lower fill level can be perceived by the consumer.

On the grounds of conservation of resources together with the associatedreduction in costs, stringent material savings are demanded when moldingplastic-based packaging. Usually this leads to lower wall thickness ofthe packaging, thereby generally resulting in a reduction in the watervapor barrier for this type of packaging as well as a reduction in thestability, especially of the stackability of the packaging.

This is particularly critical for plastics of non-fossil origin, such asplastics based on starch or polylactic acid, which generally havecomparatively high water vapor permeability so that these so-calledbioplastics are not suitable for many packaged goods.

Sustainable, renewable resources are usually used to manufacture thesetypes of bioplastics. In addition to the possible use of the respectiveregionally available agricultural raw materials for manufacturingbioplastics, there is a further advantage that after use for theintended purpose, they are comparatively easily and quicklybiodegradable in the sense of DIN EN 13432, for example by composting,such that a generally increased use and wider employment of bioplasticsis desirable.

In order to improve the water vapor barrier, it has often been proposedin the prior art to vapor-coat this type of bioplastic with, forexample, SiO_(x) or aluminum, with the consequence that the totalsurface of the packaging made from this has a suitable coating. However,vapor-coating with aluminum in particular has a number of disadvantages.Firstly, a metallized plastic film loses its transparency, and secondly,they are usually unsuitable for use in a typical domestic microwave,with the result that any use for the packaging and preparation of hotfoods is generally excluded.

Furthermore, the vapor-coated layer does not contribute to an increasedstructural stability of the molded container.

Moreover, metallized or SiO_(x)-vapor-coated bioplastics with increasingmetal or SiO_(x) levels significantly lose their inherentbiodegradability. In particular, for metallized bioplastics one must askwhether it makes ecological sense to introduce metals like aluminum intothe environment, where they do not naturally degrade but rather onlyaccumulate, especially when considering recent research resultsindicating a direct relationship between an increased exposure ofbiologically resorbable aluminum with illnesses such as Parkinson'ssyndrome or Alzheimer's disease.

An additional, limiting factor concerning the use of bioplastics istheir comparatively high price that the use of bioplastics poses, theobjective being to use the lowest possible amounts of this type ofexpensive plastic when designing a desirable packaging in order that itcan be manufactured at a competitive price in comparison withconventional plastics. In this respect, it is evident that therequirement for the lowest possible use of primary bioplastic materials,the need to provide adequate water vapor permeability, and the abilityto provide sufficiently stable packaging that is also biodegradable,stand in direct contradiction to each other and up to now has not beensatisfactorily resolved.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to improve the water vaporbarrier of plastic packaging with the lowest possible use ofresource-saving primary material in a cost-efficient and easilymanufacturable manner, wherein the packaging possesses an adequatestructural stability, especially stackability.

The object is achieved by a packaging that is made of plastic, whereinin one embodiment the packaging is especially for free-flowing orpourable surfactant-containing and/or bleach-containing packaged goodssuch as powdered laundry detergent or cleaning agent. The packaging hasa water vapor permeability >15 g/(m²*d), and comprises a floor, a top,wherein an opening for removing product from the packaging is located onor in the top and the opening can be closed with a closing means, and alateral surface, wherein at least the lateral surface of the packagingis enclosed, at least in sections on the external surface of thepackaging, by a film-like presentation and identification means that hasa water vapor permeability <15 g/(m²*d) and a modulus of elasticity ofat least 200 N/mm² and the film-like presentation and identificationmeans is a shrink film or a stretch film.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of a container(plastic bottle) with a sleeve conforming to the contour of the bottleaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is side elevation view of another embodiment of a container(plastic bottle) with a sleeve covering the closure according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a third embodiment of a container(trigger spray bottle) with sleeve according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a container(cylindrical can) with sleeve according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a container(cylindrical can) with sleeve and printed strap according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a container(cylindrical can) with sleeve and carrying strap according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a container(rectangular plastic can) with sleeved lateral walls according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a container(rectangular plastic can) with sleeve and carrying strap according tothe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bar graph illustrating weight loss of filled polylactic acid(PLA) bottles.

FIG. 10 is a bar graph illustrating deformation pressure results forsleeved PLA bottles.

The advantages of the invention include firstly an improvement in watervapor barrier properties with possible simultaneous reduction ofrequired usage of plastic materials. Secondly, by simultaneouslyincreasing the bioplastic fraction, a reduction in the plastics offossil origin can be achieved.

Moreover, plastic packaging according to the invention allows forseparation of biodegradable plastic materials and non-degradable or onlydifficultly degradable plastic materials, depending on use of thepackaging.

Packaging according to the invention can be produced in a cost-efficientmanner by exclusive use of industrially established packaging productionprocesses.

Packaging according to the invention is especially suitable for filling,storing, transporting and dispensing free-flowing or dispersibleproducts, in particular, for filled goods from the group of the laundrydetergents, laundry cleaning agents and laundry care agents, dishwasherdetergents, body care agents, pharmaceuticals, agricultural auxiliaries,building materials, colorants, adhesives or foodstuffs.

Packaging

The invention is particularly suitable for essentiallydimensionally-stable plastic packaging, such as beakers, cans, buckets,barrels, bottles, canisters, jugs, drums or tubes. In principle, it canalso be used for flexible containers such as pouches or sacks.

The packaging can assume any shape. Round or rounded cross sectionalshapes, however, are advantageous as “sharp edges” on packaging lead tounwanted stress peaks in the enveloping film-like presentation andidentification means, and thus can cause an unintentional tearing of thefilm-like presentation and identification means.

In order for the presentation and identification means to fit withoutdifficultly onto the surface of the packaging, the outline of thepackaging should be as flat as possible. However, it is possible toshape the presentation and identification means such that it fitsclosely to the outline of the packaging.

Packaging shapes that are rotationally symmetrical are particularlyadvantageous.

Beakers, Cans and Barrels

In terms of the present application, a ‘beaker’ is adimensionally-stable container for holding a free-flowing or pourableproduct which has a filling volume delimited by a floor and a lateralwall, wherein the cross-section of the floor corresponds to thecross-section of the opening of the beaker.

Cans can include an extended can, tear-open can, press-in lid can,threaded can, folding lid can, folding lid can with filling hole, foldedcan, drawn can, lobed can, sleeved can, ripcord can, crimped can,sliding lid can or raised-rim can.

Barrels or drums can be chosen from belly barrels, staved barrels,pressurized barrels, garage drums, semi-pressurized barrels, kegs,tire-shod roller drums, heavy-duty drums, flanged drums, roller flangeddrums.

Bottles

For the present application, a ‘bottle’ is a closable,dimensionally-stable container for holding a free-flowing or pourableproduct which has a filling volume delimited by a base and a lateralwall, wherein the filling volume can be filled or emptied through anopening in the bottle neck that tapers towards the opening formed in thewall, wherein the cross-section of the base is greater than thecross-section of the opening.

A bottle can be designed, for example, as an aerosol bottle, transparentbottle, drinks bottle, in particular, ale bottle, various wine bottles,stone bottle, stubby bottle, Vichy bottle, broad-necked bottle as wellas flat bottle, squeeze bottle, droplet bottle, or packaging bottle suchas a flagon.

The wall thickness of the bottle is chosen such that the bottle isdimensionally stable. In one embodiment of the bottle, the walls or thelateral wall surface can be elastically deformable so that pressure canbe exerted on the product located in the bottle, facilitating therelease of product out of the bottle.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, the bottle canalso be designed as a two- or multi-chamber container. Then, in anadvantageous manner, each of the chambers can contain differentproducts. For example, a liquid product can be stored in one chamber anda granular product stored in another chamber. Further possiblecombinations are listed in the following table:

Solid Solid Solid Liquid Liquid Liquid product product product DetergentA Detergent B Detergent A Detergent B Detergent A Detergent B DetergentFabric Fabric Detergent Fabric Detergent softener softener softenerDetergent Bleach Bleach Detergent Bleach Detergent Rinsing agent ARinsing agent B Rinse aid Rinsing agent Bleach Rinsing agent Rinsingagent Bleach Bleach Rinsing agent Rinsing agent A Rinsing agent BCleaning Cleaning Detergent Fabric Cleaning Cleaning agent A agent Bsoftener agent A agent B

In another embodiment of the invention, the closure of the bottle is atleast partially or sectionally covered by presentation andidentification means. A tamper evident seal or closure, for example, canbe easily realized in this way.

Pouch

In the context of this application, flexible packaging is packaging thatchanges its shape under a mild force during normal use. Such flexiblepackaging can be designed as a pouch or sack.

The pouch can be chosen from bottom pouch, block pouch, brick pouch,block bottom pouch, floor standing pouch, folded bottom pouch, crossedbottom pouch, round bottom pouch, upright pouch, double pouch, windowpouch, flat pouch, valve pouch, valve pocket pouch, conical pouch,tubular pouch, side-fold pouch, folded pouch, sealed edge pouch, threeedge sealed pouch, double seam pouch, sliding valve pouch, carrier bagand/or valve bag.

The sack can be chosen from push-in sacks, suspended sacks, foldedsacks, flat sacks, crossed bottom sacks, multi-ply sacks, round bottomsacks and/or valve sacks.

Packaging Material of the Packaging

The inventive packaging is molded from a plastic. The plastic packaginghas a water vapor permeability of more than 15 g/(m²*d).

Suitable, exemplary packaging materials for the packaging includepolyolefins, polyethylene terephthalates,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, cellulose acetates,ionomers, polyacrylonitriles, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters,polystyrenes, polyterephthalic acid esters, polyurethanes, polyvinylalcohols, and/or polyvinyl chlorides.

It is particularly advantageous to choose packaging material frombioplastics that are manufactured from renewable, sustainable resources.These include cellulose-based plastics, plastics based on polylacticacid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerates (PHV),polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), thermoplastic starch blends,polycaprolactone (PLC).

It is particularly advantageous to mold the packaging out of PLAplastic. Firstly, PLA is highly transparent so that packaging moldedfrom PLA is optically high-grade and attractive. Secondly, PLA issufficiently rigid and can be processed in standard molding machines.

Ecologically, it is advantageous if the packaging material is easily andas completely as possible biodegraded.

It is also possible that fractions of recycled plastic can be blendedinto the plastic blend that is used.

In order to further reduce the weight of the packaging and therefore theprimary material requirement, the packaging can be manufactured fromfoamed plastics.

Presentation and Identification Means

In the context of the present application, a ‘presentation andidentification means’ is a film-like packaging auxiliary suitable forenclosing at least a section of the packaging so that it lies on theexternal surface of the packaging. The presentation and identificationmeans forms a tube that encloses in a close fit the external surface ofthe packaging.

“To fit” in this context means that the surface of the presentation andidentification means facing the packaging touches the outwardlyorientated surface of the packaging, wherein here the intermediatelocation of an adhesive layer between the packaging surface andpresentation and identification means is also covered.

The presentation and identification means is made of a film having awater vapor permeability of <15 g/(m²*d). In a further embodiment of theinvention, the modulus of elasticity of the presentation andidentification means is >200 N/mm².

The presentation and identification means and the packaging are designedto ensure a permanently good physical contact between the presentationand identification means and the packaging, as well as preventing thepresentation and identification means from being easily damaged whenmanipulating the packaging.

The bond between the presentation and identification means and thepackaging can be designed to be friction locked, interlocking and/orcohesive. A friction locked bond can be realized, for example, byshrinking or stretching the presentation and identification means ontothe packaging. A cohesive bond can be effected by means of an adhesivebond.

The thickness of the film-like presentation and identification means ispreferably between 5 μm and 100 μm, particularly preferably between 7.5μm and 75 μm, most preferably between 10 μm and 60 μm.

The ratio of the thickness of the packaging wall to that of thepresentation and identification means is preferably >1. The ratio of thethickness of the packaging wall to that of the presentation andidentification means is particularly preferably >1.5 and <100.

Films include co-extruded film, stretch- or drawn film, extruded film,flat sheet, stretched or orientated film, cast film, calendared film,foamed film, tubular film or blown film, or shrink film.

The presentation and identification means is preferably arranged as asingle layer around the packaging.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the presentationand identification means is detachably arranged on the packaging. Inthis way the presentation and identification means can be easily removedfrom the packaging and separately disposed of, such that packagingconsisting of an easily biodegradable bioplastic can be composted, whilea presentation and identification means made of a plastic film of fossilorigin is subjected to a thermal recovery.

The presentation and identification means can be attached to thepackaging by means of one or more cohesive bonds. The cohesive bond canbe designed such that on removing the presentation and identificationmeans from the packaging, the cohesive bond is destroyed and cannot bere-established, such that the presentation and identification means,once removed from the packaging, no longer adheres to the packagingthrough the original cohesive bond. Separately, the cohesive bond can bedesigned such that a repeated removal and adhesion of the presentationand identification means to the closure cap is possible.

The cohesive bond can be chosen from adhesive joints, welded joints orsealed joints.

It is particularly advantageous if the employed adhesive layer providesa water vapor barrier. Therefore, it is also conceivable for the watervapor barrier of the adhesive layer to be greater than that of thepresentation and identification means located on top of the adhesivelayer. In this case it is advantageous to form a closed surface betweenthe presentation and identification means and the packaging.

In order to facilitate removal of the presentation and identificationmeans, an opening aid such as scissors or a knife can be provided on thepresentation and identification means, allowing the presentation andidentification means to be detached without need for opening means.

These types of opening aids can be formed, for example, as perforations,tear-off tabs, rip tapes, rip threads, pull tabs, tear-off seams,tear-off scratch lines or body rip-off tapes.

The presentation and identification means can completely enclose thepackaging.

It is particularly advantageous for the presentation and identificationmeans to enclose the lateral walls of the packaging, with the bottom ofthe packaging remaining substantially unenclosed by the presentation andidentification means. In a further preferred embodiment of theinvention, between 50-95% of the packaging surface is covered by thepresentation and identification means. It is particularly preferred tocover between 65-90% of the packaging surface with the presentation andidentification means. Doing so produces firstly a water vaporpermeability that is adequate for a large majority of possibleapplications, and secondly a sufficiently high supporting effect againstbuckling or bulging of the packaging, particularly when stacked.

Moreover, the presentation and identification means can reduce emissionof bad odors from the plastic material into the surroundings, as canresult, for example, from the use of plastic blends that comprise arecycled fraction.

Advantageously, the ratio of the surface area of the packaging lateralwalls to that of the top and bottom can be greater than 2, such that onenclosing the surface area of the lateral walls with a presentation andidentification means having a high water vapor barrier, the more watervapor-permeable area of the top and bottom is minimized. In thisrespect, it should be noted that surprisingly a water vapor exchangethrough the bottom surface occurs only to a small extent if at all, asthe weight of the filled packaging produces a seal of the bottom surfaceto the floor.

Shrink-Sleeve Label

A shrink-sleeve label is understood to mean a thermoplastic,pre-stretched film that shrinks or contracts when heated. Theshrink-sleeve label and the packaging are accordingly designed so as toensure a permanently good physical contact between the shrink-sleevelabel and the packaging. The shrink-sleeve label should preferablyshrink in the temperature range of about 50° C. to 90° C. by at least 5%in the orientated direction with sufficient force so as to produce afirmly seated, close fitting skin around the packaging enclosed by thecoating.

Stretch Film or Stretch Sleeve Label

A stretch sleeve label refers to film with a tendency to adhesion, whichcan be stretched by hand or with a machine and laid tightly around thepackaging.

The stretch label and packaging are accordingly designed so as to ensurea permanently good physical contact between the stretch label and thepackaging. The stretch label is preferably made of stretchable materialsand contracts with sufficient force to produce a firmly seated, closefitting skin around the packaging enclosed by the coating.

Packaging Material for Presentation and Identification Means

The presentation and identification means is molded from a packagingmaterial having a water vapor permeability of less than 15 g/(m²*d). Themodulus of elasticity of the packaging material of the presentation andidentification means is preferably >200 N/mm².

The packaging material of the presentation and identification meansshould possess good printability. The packaging material can be printedsubstantiallyover its whole surface and therefore can be substantiallyopaque, thereby forming a correspondingly good UV-barrier that protectsthe contents of the packaging against environmental UV irradiation. Thisis of particular advantage for packaged goods containing UV-sensitiveingredients, such as enzymes, vitamins, colorants or fragrances.

The packaging material can also comprise specific UV-barrier substancesand/or UV stabilizers. This can be advantageous for protectingUV-sensitive packaged goods, particularly when too high a fraction oftransparent presentation and identification means is used. The use ofUV-barrier substances in the presentation and identification means hasmoreover the advantage that for a given UV-barrier effect, comparativelyless UV-bather substances need to be incorporated in the presentationand identification means than in the packaging material, with the resultthat the corresponding UV-bather can be manufactured more costeffectively.

However, it is also conceivable to print the surface of the packagingand to enclose it in a transparent presentation and identificationmeans.

Suitable, exemplary packaging materials for the presentation andidentification means include polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalates,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, cellulose acetates,ionomers, polyacrylonitriles, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters,polystyrenes, polyterephthalic acid esters, polyurethanes, polyvinylalcohols, and/or polyvinyl chlorides. In particular, the packagingmaterial for the presentation and identification means can bepolyethylene and/or polypropylene.

In order to realize a particularly good water vapor barrier and modulusof elasticity, multi-layered and/or composite films can be used as thepresentation and identification means. In this regard, multi-layeredfilms or composites consisting of PET-Al-PE, PET-PE or BOPP-PE areparticularly preferred.

Packaged Goods

When packaging according to the invention is used, free-flowable andpourable packaged goods are particularly preferred.

In particular, it is advantageous that the ratio of the fill-height ofthe free-flowing or pourable packaged goods to the height of the lateralwalls of the packaging is greater than 0.5, preferably greater than0.75. This ensures that the packaged goods exert a sufficient,externally directed pressure on the lateral walls of the packaging sothat the lateral wall is not pressed inwards by the force of thepresentation and identification means enclosing the packaging.

The pourable packaged goods can be especially laundry detergent powder,laundry detergent granulates, cleaning agent granulates, salt or thelike.

The free-flowing packaged goods are preferably liquid or gelled laundrydetergents and/or cleaning agents, body-care products, adhesives,building materials or the like.

The invention is illustrated below in more detail with illustrativedrawings of some embodiments. Particularly preferred developments andparticularly preferred combinations of characterizing features will alsobe described below in detail.

FIG. 1 illustrates a packaging 1 shaped as a bottle with a bottom 3 anda top 2, on which is found a closure 7 as well as a body 4 that extendsbetween bottom 3 and top 2. The bottle 1 has a waist at about half theway up the bottle 1. The body 4 is enclosed in a film-like presentationand identification means 5 that matches the contour of the body. As canbe seen in FIG. 1, areas on the bottom 3 and top 2 are not covered bythe presentation and identification means. In order to realize auser-friendly removal of the presentation and identification means 5, anopening aid 6, for example in the form of a perforation, which runsvertically to the bottom of the bottle 3, is provided on thepresentation and identification means 5.

Another embodiment of the bottle 1 in FIG. 1 is depicted in FIG. 2. Herethe presentation and identification means 5 completely spans the wholebody surface 4 of the bottle 1, as well as the lower part of the closure7, such that the closure 7 cannot be detached from the bottle 1 withoutdestroying the presentation and identification means 5. In this way thepresentation and identification means 5 forms a tamper-evident closure.In order to facilitate the detachment of the closure 7, the presentationand identification means 5 is provided with an opening aid 6 such as aperforation on the lower part of the closure 7.

The closure 7 can also be designed as a metering aid, such as forexample a trigger spray head. This is illustrated in FIG. 3.

A cylindrical plastic can 1 is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the body surface4 is enclosed by a presentation and identification means 5. As can beseen in FIG. 5, a tab 8 can be located on the presentation andidentification means 5 and stick out substantially radially from thebody surface 4 and carry information perceivable by the consumer. Thetab 8 can be detached from the presentation and identification means 5by, for example, a perforation. The tab 8 can also be designed as acarrying aid, such as is demonstrated in FIG. 6. In this case the tab 8possesses a grip hole 9.

FIG. 7 illustrates a packaging 1 in the shape of a plastic box having aright angled basic design whose body 4 is completely enclosed by thepresentation and identification means 5. On one sidewall of the body 4,the packaging 1 has an opening aid 7 for a flap for removing product(e.g., a metering chute or the like). This opening aid 7 is designed,for example, as a perforation or tear line and is completely covered bythe presentation and identification means 5. In the area of the openingaid 7, the presentation and identification means 5 possesses an openingaid 6 with which a part of the presentation and identification means 5can be detached so that the opening aid 7 becomes accessible to theconsumer.

Another embodiment of the plastic box 1 of FIG. 7 is illustrated in FIG.8. In this embodiment, the top 2 of the plastic box 1 is completelyenclosed by the presentation and identification means 5. In the toparea, a tab that possesses a grip hole 9 and is designed as a carryingaid 8 extends from the presentation and identification means 5.

A further embodiment, not illustrated in the Figures, of a polylacticacid (PLA) bottle with a stretch label or shrink label, is describedbelow.

The PLA bottle described below is a 500 ml bottle from the BELU Companyused for “Natural Mineral Water UK” production code: 25061819. Thebottle is cylindrically shaped and has a height of 220 mm.

One group of the BELU Company bottles was enveloped with a PET sleevefrom the Klöckner Company with the name Pentaplast Thermodurr SF-E649/15. The bottom of the bottle was not covered by the sleeve; the wallwas completely sleeved up to the closure (200 mm).

Another group of BELU PLA bottles was provided with a PE shrink labelwith the trademark Flexaround® from the Bischof+Klein Company with athickness of 65 μm. The PE shrink label was sleeved onto the PLA bottleto a height of 150 mm, the bottom of the bottle also remaining uncoveredby the sleeve.

A control group of BELU PLA bottles remained without a cover. Thebottles were filled with a commercial liquid universal laundry detergentnamed Persil and stored in a conditioning cabinet at 40° C. Weight lossfrom the bottles over time was measured and is shown in the followingTable and FIG. 9 diagram. The measurement was made pursuant to theprovisions of DIN 53122.

TABLE 1 Weight loss of filled PLA bottles PET sleeve PE shrink labelWithout label 1 week −1.38 g −1.36 g −3.43 g 2 weeks −4.99 g −2.47 g−8.63 g 4 weeks −6.21 g −5.63 g −13.87 g 

As can be seen from the Table and FIG. 9, the PLA bottles enclosed by asleeve show a significantly lower water loss than a bottle without acorresponding envelope.

Furthermore, the PLA bottles were subjected to a compression testaccording to DIN 55526 part 1. For this, as described above, wereprovided a group of BELU PLA bottles with a PET sleeve and another groupwith a PE shrink label. Here also there was a control group ofun-enveloped BELU PLA bottles. In contrast to the above-describedstorage tests however, the BELU PLA bottles remained empty for thecompression measurement. The PLA bottles were positioned between theplatens of a press and the platens moved towards one another at a speedof 10 mm/min. The force for a deformation of 3 mm (F 3 mm [N]) and 5 mm(F 5 mm [N]) was measured.

TABLE 2 Compression measurement of the sleeved PLA bottles PLA BottlePLA Bottle with PLA Bottle with without label PE shrink label PET sleeveF 3 mm [N] 385 676 719 F 5 mm [N] 612 1006 1087

From the above and FIG. 10 a significant increase in the compressivepressure is observed for an inventive sheathing compared to that for theunsleeved PLA bottles.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it is to beclearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and exampleonly, and is not to be taken as a limitation. The spirit and scope ofthe present invention are to be limited only by the terms of any claimspresented hereafter.

1. Packaging for free-flowing or pourable surfactant-containing and/orbleach-containing packaged goods comprising: a floor, a top, wherein anopening for removing product from the packaging is located on, in ornear the top and the opening can be closed with a closing means, and alateral surface, wherein the packaging is made of plastic and has awater vapor permeability >15 g/(m²*d), wherein at least the lateralsurface of the packaging is enclosed at least in sections on theexternal surface of the packaging by a film-like presentation andidentification means having a water vapor permeability <15 g/(m²*d) anda modulus of elasticity of at least 200 N/mm², and wherein the film-likepresentation and identification means is a shrink film or a stretchfilm.
 2. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the presentation andidentification means completely encloses the packaging.
 3. Packagingaccording to claim 1 wherein the presentation and identification meanscovers between 50% and 95% of the packaging surface.
 4. Packagingaccording to claim 1 wherein the presentation and identification meanscovers between 50% and 100% of the lateral surface.
 5. Packagingaccording to claim 1 wherein the presentation and identification meansencloses the lateral surface and leaves at least sections of the bottomuncovered.
 6. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the presentationand identification means at least covers sections of the bottom and/orthe top of the packaging.
 7. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein thepresentation and identification means at least covers sections of theclosing means.
 8. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein thepresentation and identification means is friction locked to thepackaging.
 9. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the presentationand identification means is fixed to the packaging by shrinking orstretching.
 10. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the presentationand identification means is cohesively fixed to the packaging. 11.Packaging according to claim 10 wherein the cohesive fixture is at leastan adhesive layer having a water vapor permeability lower than that ofthe packaging.
 12. Packaging according to claim 11 wherein the adhesivelayer has a water vapor permeability that is lower than the presentationand identification means.
 13. Packaging according to claim 11 whereinthe adhesive layer is applied onto the surface between the presentationand identification means and the packaging.
 14. Packaging according toclaim 1 wherein the thickness of the presentation and identificationmeans is between 5 μm and 100 μm.
 15. Packaging according to claim 1wherein the ratio of the wall thickness of the packaging to that of thepresentation and identification means is >1.
 16. Packaging according toclaim 1 wherein the presentation and identification means is arranged inat least a single layer around the packaging.
 17. Packaging according toclaim 1 wherein the presentation and identification means is printed.18. Packaging according to claim 17 wherein the presentation andidentification means is printed over its whole surface.
 19. Packagingaccording to claim 1 wherein the presentation and identification meansis detachably arranged on the packaging.
 20. Packaging according toclaim 1 wherein an opening aid is provided on or in the presentation andidentification means.
 21. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein thepresentation and identification means is fixed on the packaging by adetachable adhesive bond.
 22. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein theratio of lateral surface area to top and bottom surface area is greaterthan
 2. 23. Packaging according to claim 1 further comprising an openingaid for opening the packaging, wherein the opening aid is provided onthe packaging.
 24. Packaging according to claim 23 wherein the openingaid is designed as a perforation.
 25. Packaging according to claim 23wherein the film-like presentation and identification means covers theopening aid on the packaging.
 26. Packaging according to claim 23wherein the opening aid of the presentation and identification means isarranged not to overlap with the opening of the packaging.
 27. Packagingaccording to claim 1 wherein the packaging is molded at least in partfrom bioplastic.
 28. Packaging according to claim 27 wherein thebioplastic is a cellulose-based plastic, a plastic based on polylacticacids (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV),polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), thermoplastic starch blends,polycaprolactone (PLC) or any mixtures thereof.
 29. Packaging accordingto claim 1 wherein the packaging is not printed.
 30. Packaging accordingto claim 1 wherein the ratio of fill-height of the free-flowable orpourable packaged goods to the height of the lateral surface of thepackaging is greater than 0.5.